Bree

I stood in front of the plot, silently observing the digging.

"Are you sure about this spot?" Rosa hesitantly asked.

"It's just dirt," I replied coldly, kicking a clump towards the edge.

"I'd rather be buried here than somewhere I don't belong."

Rosa didn't protest. She wasn't one to argue once I had made up my mind. But the pity in her eyes made my skin crawl.

"Don't tell him. He doesn't deserve to know," I ordered.

Rosa tried to open her mouth, but I silenced it with a glare.

"Promise me."

She reluctantly nodded.

Laughter from a distance broke the moment. My ears focused instinctively on the sound. It's Kyle. And even without turning, I knew who was with him. Janice's light and teasing voice drifted on the gentle breeze. My fists clenched when I turned away from the plot.

"This is done," I muttered, walking toward my car without waiting for Rosa.

Back at our home, every corner flashed with memories, suffocating me. Even the piles of gifts on the dresser taunted me. And in a fit of rage, I yanked the drawer and seized the small jewelry box Kyle had given me last year.

“For the only woman who’ll ever hold my heart,” he’d said when he slipped the necklace around my neck.

Liar.

I sent the box flying across the room and collided with the wall, spilling its contents onto the floor. Next was a framed photo on the mantle. My heart raced as I watched the glass shattered on the floor.

And then I found the pictures.

Tucked under the bed, hidden in an envelope, were photos of Kyle and Janice - smiling, touching, together. Pain and anger threatened to consume me as I stared at the concrete evidence of his betrayal. I chuckled in tears. He didn't even try to hide it.

Now, I am driving and gripping the steering wheel so tight. The headlights cut through the darkness. I'm leaving everything and everyone behind. And I thought I would feel free, but my chest felt empty as if the curse consumed me.

Suddenly, a truck appeared out of nowhere. I slammed on the brakes, tires screeching as our vehicles collided and sent me jolting forward. The sound of metal crunching and glass shattering felt unreal. Pain shot through my body, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart.

When I finally opened my eyes, everything was tilted. Steam hissed from the car's engine; the accident completely wrecked it. I groaned, trying to move, but my limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

And then I saw them.

Kyle was crouched on the opposite side of the road, cradling Janice in his arms as if she were the most precious thing in the world. His fingers cupped her face, his voice frantic yet gentle.

"You're okay. I've got you."

He didn't even glance my way.

I laughed bitterly; a raw and broken sound escaped my lips. Of course, I didn't matter. But it still hurt like hell. I cried watching them until I lost consciousness.

The sterile smell of the hospital stung my nose when I awakened. Every breath I took was accompanied by a sharp pain in my ribs, and the bright lights above me made my head throb.

Kyle was sitting in the corner of the room, his head buried in his hands. When he saw I was awake, he quickly stood, his face went pale.

"Bree..."

"Don't," I immediately cut him off.

He flinched, but his desperation only fueled my anger.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean..."

“Didn’t mean what?” I snapped.

“Didn’t mean to sleep with Janice? Didn’t mean to break the bond? Or didn’t mean to leave me bleeding while you played hero to her?”

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

“That’s what I thought.”

I turned and faced the wall. Kyle moved closer, but I held up a hand.

“You’ve done enough, Kyle. Get out.”

“Bree, please..."

“If you don't want to go, I will reject you."

"Bree..."

"I reject you, Kyle, as my mate and Alpha."

"No, Bree..."

"Accept it!"

Kyle stood stunned. It took all my strength to yell and convince him to let me go.

"I said, accept it!"

"I... yes, I accept..."

Kyle turned around, leaving me to cry and grieve finally.

Kyle

I stood frozen, staring at the shattered vase on the floor. Bree's perfume tormented me. She was just here earlier in this quiet and empty house. Something was wrong, and my gut churned as I realized what it was.

I rushed through the room and searched desperately for her. But I found empty drawers and bare closets. Every trace of Bree was gone.

"No," I whispered, my heart sinking with the realization.

But she had left. The memory of her lying in that hospital bed flooded back to me. Her frail body, her tear-streaked face, and the anger in her voice when she screamed for me to leave. And I did, even accepted her rejection like a coward.

When I turned, something caught my eye on the nightstand - a small black box. My hands shook as I opened it, revealing a stack of photos inside. Photos of Janice and me together, smiling and laughing. I almost stopped breathing.

Bree knew about us all along. How long had she been suffering in silence? How long had she watched me destroy our relationship?

The door creaked behind me, and I whirled around to see Janice standing there with her practiced smile that now made my stomach turn.

"You knew she was leaving," I growled.

Janice tilted her head innocently.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," I snapped, holding up one of the photos.

"Where did these come from?"

Her smile faltered for a moment but recovered quickly.

"Maybe Bree had someone following us?" she suggested.

"Don't lie to me!" I barked, moving towards her.

Janice's expression hardened as she admitted, "Fine. I sent them."

The truth hit me like a punch to the gut. Anger and betrayal boiled within me.

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"Because she wasn't good enough for you!" Janice's voice rose in defiance.

"She was weak, Kyle. You're the Alpha. You need someone strong by your side, not some fragile omega who can't even..."

"Stop!" I roared, cutting her off.

But she didn't.

"She had always intended to leave you, Kyle. I just helped speed up the process."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Bree hadn't left because she was weak; she left because I made her believe she wasn't worthy.

"Get out," I ordered through gritted teeth.

"What? Are you serious?"

Janice's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You heard me. Pack your things and leave the pack. You're done here."

Janice's face twisted in shock.

"You're throwing me out? After everything?"

"After everything?" I chuckled.

"You betrayed Bree and me. There's no place for you here."

Janice was about to argue but stopped when she realized I wouldn't listen.

I sank onto the bed when she left. The smell of roses still lingered in the room, and it brought back every memory of Bree. She had always loved and believed in me. Bree had been my everything, and I had been too caught up in my own selfishness to see it. I made her leave me.

I grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the house. I needed to find her.

I was met with a few omegas who greeted me on my way to car parking.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

"Luna Bree?" one of them said hesitantly.

"Yes. Did she mention where she was going?"

She shook her head and said, "She left this morning. Didn't say much, just packed her things and drove off."

My jaw clenched in frustration. Bree wasn't one for announcing her plans, especially when she was hurting.

I rushed to my car. Guilt and determination battled inside me as I revved the engine. She couldn't have gone far. As I sped down the road, I was reminded of Bree standing in the garden, touching the roses with her fingers.

"These flowers, they're a promise. A reminder that even the thorniest things can bloom again," she once said.

Tears pricked at my eyes as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. The roses were gone now and so was Bree. I tried to speak to her via mind link, but she blocked me.

"I'll find you, Bree. No matter what it takes," I whispered, praying she would unblock me and talk to me.

Bree

Pain radiated through my body as I slowly opened my eyes. I realized that I was no longer in the forest. But I was sure I drove, ditched my car, and entered the forest to die. Instead, I found myself in a room that smelled of cedarwood and an unfamiliar scent that somehow felt comforting yet foreign at the same time.

"You're finally awake," a deep voice said.

I turned my head slowly, wincing at the pain from my broken ribs. A man stood near the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered with deep green eyes.

"Where am I?" I croaked out.

"Bloodmoon Pack," he replied, stepping closer.

"You collapsed in the forest, and my patrol found you."

I attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through me, forcing me to stop. I hadn't fully healed from the accident yet.

"Why did you help me?"

"Would you have preferred if I hadn't?"

He wasn't mocking, only curious. But I ignored him and looked away.

"I'm Finn," he introduced, sitting in the chair near my bed.

"Bree."

"I know."

And it made my wolf stir inside me, uneasy but also intrigued.

The door opened, and Rosa entered, looking pale but relieved when she saw me awake.

"Bree," she exclaimed, hurrying to my side.

"You're alive, thanks to the Moon Goddess."

Rosa's healer eyes scanned me for any injuries. Her fingers brushed over my wrist until she saw the faint mark.

"It seems dormant for now," she said cautiously.

"For now," I repeated bitterly.

"You need to rest, Bree. The curse feeds on your emotions. If you don't stay calm..."

"I know, Rosa," I snapped, cutting her off.

"I've lived with it long enough."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue. She turned to Finn and nodded her thanks.

"Alpha Finn, I'll keep an eye on her."

"I'm sure you will," Finn responded without moving.

Rosa hesitated before finally leaving us alone.

Finn remained silent, his gaze on me with unsettling calmness. I hated it. It was nothing like Kyle's easy arrogance or sharp words. His patient silence was unnerving.

"What do you want?" I demanded, breaking the silence.

"To help."

"I don't need your help."

"Your body says otherwise."

I glared at him, but he didn't even flinch. Instead, he leaned forward slightly with his eyes growing darker.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" he asked.

I stiffened.

"Felt what?"

"The bond."

My wolf stirred again, this time feeling more restless.

"You're wrong," I denied.

But Finn's steady gaze never wavered.

"Am I?

I clenched the blanket tightly, trying to ignore the pull I felt towards him. My bond with Kyle was broken, but that didn't mean I should get a new one.

"You're my second mate," Finn declared.

"Don't," I warned.

"You know it's true. Your wolf feels it, too."

A small whimper escaped from Asha, my wolf, a sound I hadn't heard in weeks.

“Do you really think these changes anything?” I snapped, my anger masking my fear.

“It doesn’t. I’m not going to stay here.”

“I’m not asking you to. But running won’t fix what’s broken, Bree.”

“Don’t act like you know me."

“I don’t. But I want to.”

His honesty took me by surprise. Kyle had never been like this.

“I’ll stay until I heal. Then I’m leaving," I stated.

Finn nodded but hope still beamed in his eyes.

Days passed, and I kept my distance, but Finn made it difficult. He was always around, always watching me. Not in a controlling way, but in a way that made it impossible to ignore him.

One evening, I wandered outside, drawn to the quiet garden behind the packhouse.

“You like it?”

I jumped at Finn's voice and turned to see him leaning against a tree.

“It's...peaceful,” I admitted.

“My mother planted this garden. She believed that flowers could heal even the deepest wounds.”

“Flowers can't fix everything," I scoffed.

“No. But it's a start. Look, you don't have to trust me. But I'll be here when you're ready.”

“I don't know if I'll ever be ready,” I whispered.

Then, we both went silent. Meanwhile, Kyle's car screeched to a halt at the border of Bloodmoon Pack.

“She's here,” Kyle muttered, his eyes narrowed as he stepped out.